Key dates: Taste of WA - South West Region: 11am to 1pm – Sunday 2 December - Yagan Square Perth Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival: Saturday 8 December - Manjimup Genuinely Extraordinary Food and Farm Tour: Sunday 9 December - Manjimup
A joyful sign of the festive season to come, locally grown cherries are a versatile and delicious summer treat. Consumers are set to enjoy a merry feast as Genuinely Southern Forests cherries come into season this December.
Perth shoppers will get their first taste of fresh cherries at Yagan Square on the 2nd December as Chef Don Hancey prepares samples for the Buy West Eat Best Taste of WA - South West Region showcase. Followed by the annual celebrations at the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival on Saturday 8th December, featuring a half-day Genuinely Extraordinary Food and Farm Tour on Sunday 9th December.
The cherry growing season has been tracking well according to Southern Forests grower George Grozotis, "we are expecting a great season overall with slightly bigger fruit and larger volumes than last year." Louis Vellios of Manjimup has begun harvesting early variety cherries and is excited for the summer season, "weather permitting, this season should produce cherries of excellent quality," Mr Vellios says.
The team at Buy West Eat Best are thrilled to be sampling Genuinely Southern Forests cherries at the Taste of WA - South West Region showcase at Yagan Square and will also highlight the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival in promotional activities. The event at Yagan Square is the concluding Taste of WA activation for the year, and will give Perth locals a chance to learn more about the region and surrounds, sample its incredible produce and hear from industry leaders and meet some local farmers.
“The Taste of WA - South West Region event is the ideal platform to celebrate the start of the much-anticipated cherry season and increase awareness with grocery shoppers to the abundant range of beautiful seasonal produce from the Southern Forest region heading into stores over the coming months by bringing a taste of the country to the city,” said Director of Food and Trade Industry Development Deborah Pett.
“We encourage everyone to venture to the Southern Forests for the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival, and look out for the diverse range of farm tour, culinary events and community activities taking place over summertime and uncover the magic of the Southern Forests for themselves,” said Deborah.
The Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival will be hosting a Long Table Lunch, cooking demonstrations, festive family fun, log chops, wine tasting and more. The Southern Forests Food Council have also coordinated a half-day Genuinely Extraordinary Cherry Festival Food and Farm Tour which offers the chance to meet Southern Forests farmers on their home soil and truly experience where food comes from.
The SFFC is supported by a $1.5 million investment over three years through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program to support the Council’s on-going activities in developing economic opportunities for the region. The SFFC is also supported by the Shire of Manjimup, and includes the towns of Manjimup, Pemberton, Northcliffe and Walpole.
Image: George Grozotis is expecting an excellent season for cherries.
More information: Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival: https://www.cherryfestival.com.au Genuinely Southern Forests: https://www.southernforestsfood.com Taste of WA - South West Region: https://www.buywesteatbest.org.au/articles/events/taste-of- wa-south-west-region/
Contacts: Please contact Georgia Thomas on 0431444918 or georgia@fresh-creative.com.au Website: http://www.southernforestsfood.com Facebook: Genuinely Southern Forests Instagram: @genuinelysouthernforests
Genuinely Extraordinary Cherry Festival Food and Farm Tour: From Cauliflower Rice to Pastured Eggs and fresh Cherries, this half-day tour offers you the chance to meet our genuine down-to-earth Southern Forests farmers on their home soil and truly experience where your food comes from. Date: Sunday 9 December 2018 Time: 8.45am-12.45pm Meeting/Drop-off Point: Outside Two Little Black Birds café, Woolworths complex Manjimup Tickets: $97 per person
Southern Forests Food Council: The Southern Forests Food Council was founded in 2010 by a group of passionate local producers who recognised that the wealth and abundance of produce grown in the region made it perfect for major food production and agri-tourism. Its role was formalised in 2012 after receiving a $5 million investment under the State Government’s Royalties for Regions initiative. The investment is part of a $7 million Royalties for Regions allocation to the Shire of Manjimup for its Agricultural Expansion Project. The SFFC received further funding in 2018 of $1.5 million to support the Council’s on-going activities in developing economic opportunities for the region.
The Food Council is committed to unifying the area’s world-class and diverse producers to strengthen the region’s economy, attract investment and export opportunities, promote regional pride, and create sustainable jobs. It represents local producers, culinary and agri-tourism operators who live and work in what is WA’s premier food bowl, aiming to ultimately establish the Southern Forests as an internationally-recognised agricultural region and culinary tourism destination.
The Southern Forests produces over 50 different types of fruits and vegetables, truffles and boutique produce, dairy, sheep, pork and cattle farms, as well as award-winning wineries and exceptional culinary experiences. The Southern Forests region is heavily invested in agriculture, with $230 million of agricultural production coming from the region.